It's the only copy I've found that's an audience, not an FM broadcast, and it sounds awesome. Puts you right by the soundboard. Thank you, Joe D'Amico!
As for the show, well, I'm kinda grading on a curve, with a little bias thrown in because I was there. I'm a huge fan of 72-74, with 77 as my second choice and 68-69 also high up there. 80's shows, especially mid to late 80's except fall '89, just don't have the jams. But a lot of songs actually were played much better in the 80's. Jack Straw is one of them, and this one is no slouch. Franklin's is next, at a super fast, '81-like tempo, but it peters out quickly. C.C. Rider's pretty standard, meaning hot, and Jerry gets going pretty fierce on Ramble, only to run out of steam near the end.
The rest of the first set is pretty blase, and they start the 2nd set with a sop to the radio audience, A Touch of Grey. They've already gotten it down pretty close to the version that would become a Top 10 hit, and to which they would stick closely for the remainder of the GD's touring career. The set picks up after that, though. Estimated is a scorcher, one of the best I've ever heard in terms of just the song, though the outro jam is short and features too much Bobby shit and not enough actual jamming.
After a couple minutes, Jerry starts the awkward, almost atonal transition into Terrapin, and the rest of the band except the drummers drop out until he finds his way there. Terrapin is nearly note-perfect, though close to the vest. The interlude is very short, atypical of the long, peaking interludes they were playing around this time. There is no outro jam at all; they come down from the climax and go straight into drums. But what a climax! Brent is all over this one with inspired play.
Drums is pretty much always excellent around this time, but space is not -- while I could listen to Jerry noodle all night, I'd rather have contributions from others. In this case, Jerry starts up Uncle John's a bit awkwardly, then the others join in, and it becomes a solid version, with only one minor lyrical flub. Miracle is not among my favorites, and this one ends quickly before going into Stella.
Stella could be gorgeous as all heck, or it could be a boring snooze fest, depending on Jerry. Well, it's definitely the former here; Jerry unleashes torrents of sound out of that Tiger guitar. How he gets that echoing, overdrive effect I don't know, not being an electric guitarist. It's like ear candy, overwhelming the listener with sweetness.
The rest of it is pretty standard stuff. Overall, I thought the first two nights were more adventurous, but you can't beat how well played this one was, and getting Uncle John's out of Space was a rare treat.

WOW! Found 3/31/87.... Not that it was hard to find I'm sure... It was a broadcast as well. But I have not searched for shows much lately... Kids. Life. Etc... I listened to this tape so much when I was younger, I can't even tell you. This is the show that changed my life.... this show was my 4th show?? But the one where I got it... When I got on the bus…. 16 years old. My buddies and I hit the show. Had decent seats on the first level. My friend Bryan(who was the worst bummer dude to ever go to a show with) and I took two gel hits each. He started FREAKING because the guys behind us were pissing in their beer cups... In hindsight. They probably didn't want to hit the bathroom and miss any of it. But to him and me, it was the end of the world.. My other buddy OZ had binoculars that were all tweaked and when I looked through them, with the stage lights on Bobby, what I saw was a 70 year old bobby playing along. WHACKED.... That and freak boy going off about guys pissing, sent me running to the hallway. After a few encounters including a guy painting a picture of Jerry on an easel, this other guy who looked like a rat telling me about heroin and a some other nutty stuff, I was able to calm down. At that point the band came on and I witnessed the hallways for the first time in all their craziness. Something told me to jump in and the rest is history…. In fact I pretty much stayed in the hallways during shows and enjoyed that scene up until the early 90’s.
It wasn’t that this night was a bummer. I would go on to have some of those for sure. It was just very intense! I loved it. It’s funny because when I used to listen to this show I thought I had a flashback one time during Stella blue so I kind of always passed over that one…. Are flashbacks real? Who knows? But tomorrow I am going to jam this show as I run on the treadmill. And if I have an acid flashback in the YMCA…. THANK GOD….. I could use one!! :)
Thank you so much for allowing me to access this show!

Above average AUD recordeing of a well-played, energetic show. Joe D'Amico knows what he is doing....good sounding recording.

This recording is outragous! Whenever a matrix shows up I usually snatch it right away.... But even if a matrix were available for this show I would still burn this copy.... I just listened to this whole show through my stereo speakers and I only have two words to say.... HOLY SHIT! I posted about this show on the soundboard copy... And I don't mean to take away from that person's work and effort but this recording is totally the best... Plus Joe's recordings of 3-29 and 3-30 are just a s good.... I think Im gonna have to make a box set.
One more thing.... I have come to this conclusion... If you see a Joe D'Amico... Don't hestitate, start downloading right away.... I have seen his name on official GD videos in the credits.... He is definetly in the loop.... Keep em' comin Joe! My First 5 Star
Correction..... Made on 11-25-08.... I am getting Joe here, confused with Len Dell'Amico... Sorry about that... still Joe has some of the best AUDS on the Archive.